Survey: Former Abuse Victims Need Support Group

August 7, 1985|By Ines Davis of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — Nearly 40 percent of the women who call the county's telephone crisis hot line show symptoms of having been sexually abused as children, said Nancy Cassin, director of Help Now of Osceola County.

Cassin's assessment indicates a great need for a support group for women who still are dealing with the trauma of childhood abuse, said Shelley Conroy, director of Child Abuse Prevention.

An 80 percent response to a survey last month shows that a group is desperately needed here, Conroy said, especially by teen-age girls.

Conroy said she hopes to start two groups for women and adolescent girls to help them overcome their anger and, often, their grief.

Women who were abused in either an incestuous relationship or by a family friend often grow into passive and guilt-ridden adults whose relationships are adversely affected, said Carol Brown, director of Seminole County's Child Abuse Prevention agency and coordinator of a Support for Victims group.

Self-esteem, the ability to relate well to men and assertiveness frequently are so distorted that such women sometimes exhibit bizarre behavior, said Lorraine Clancy. Clancy is a psychologist who works with women from incestuous families in Jacksonville.

Some women become promiscuous, others have relationships with men who abuse them, and still others abuse themselves with drugs or alcohol, she said. Most, she said, are sexually dysfunctional -- they cannot enjoy intimate relationships -- because they learned to shut off their feelings as abused children.

Brown said her members of her group have been referred by individual therapists. Most, she said, do not even realize why they are depressed, anxious or otherwise emotionally impaired because the memory has been repressed. Some women find repressing the memories is easier than trying to cope with the anguish, Brown said. A few women left her group for that reason. Brown uses a film, The Last Taboo, to help people, including professional counselors, interested in starting a group better understand what to expect.

The emotions shown in the film by women -- all real victims -- are so intense that some women cannot watch the entire film, Brown said. When she shows the films to agencies such as Community Coordinated Child Care, Brown said she watches the audience for reactions that may indicate problems.

Anger and feelings of worthlessness or shame marked every woman in the film, and, Brown said, every woman in her group.

The group setting, however, is a ''marvelous tool'' in helping the victims understand that they are not alone. It ''lets the women understand that it's okay for them to have those feelings,'' Clancy said.

Brown said her primary emphasis is to teach women assertiveness. ''They simply can't say no,'' even though they may be uncomfortable with a request or a touch by a man or woman. Many of the women are dominated by their husbands or children.

Although Brown said she tried to have a man in the group, the women were distrustful and could not open up in his presence.

Sexual abuse of children is much discussed, but it still may be difficult for women to come to group sessions and talk about themselves, Conroy said. ''I think there's more sympathy for victims,'' Conroy said, unlike some groups such as Parents Anonymous in which there could be judgmental behaviors.

She said many of the women who may attend already are familiar with the Children's Center and would feel comfortable.